Did you know that you can find a wealth of advocacy facts, figures, and supporting data to cover just about everything you would need to support your school’s program and to speak up for the power of language learning?

While the CCFLT website does not have an advocacy page (yet), here are hyperlinks to existing websites that address advocacy of world language education. I believe you will find great value from the information provided in these links.

The Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies represent our profession in Washington D.C. Each year the CCFLT President and I, as Advocacy Liaison, join representatives from approximately 35 states in attending meetings with our Congressional delegations, Congressional Committees, and Executive Branch agencies during Language Advocacy Day. It is a great opportunity for us to be heard by our nation’s leaders and decision makers as we speak up for the power of language learning. In addition to the website, subscribe to the JNCL Weekly NewsBrief .

With a focus on the elementary level, The National Network for Early Language Learning offers:

How to be an Effective AdvocateSample LettersMedia Advocacy ResourcesHow to Save a Program in JeopardyHow to Build a ProgramBe a Language Advocate Every Day

Advocacy Resources from Other Organizations

LEAD WITH LANGUAGES

Lead with Languages is a national campaign aimed at making language proficiency a national priority.

ACTFL seeks to raise awareness across the U.S. and motivate people to take action around the rapidly rising importance of language skills to a wide array of careers—and to our nation’s economy, national security and international standing. Their ultimate goal is to inspire a new generation of Americans competent in other languages and cultures and fully equipped to compete and succeed in a global economy.

The campaign invites parents, educators, business leaders, foundations, communities, and policymakers at all levels to join this critical effort to prioritize language education and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn a second language.

Key action steps to the Lead with Languages Campaign include:

•Increase student enrollment in world language programs

•Strengthen and increase language programs at all education levels

•Address the shortage of qualified language teachers at all education levels

In 2014, a bipartisan group of members of Congress asked the American Academy of Arts and Sciences to undertake a new study of the nation’s language education needs. The results of the study were made public on February 28, 2017 and are presented in this link.

How does language learning influence economic growth, cultural diplomacy, the productivity of future generations, and the fulfillment of all Americans?

What actions should the nation take to ensure excellence in all languages as well as international education and research, including how we may more effectively use current resources to advance language attainment?

Founded in 1947, the Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers, Inc., is organized for the purpose of the advancement of the study and teaching of foreign languages in the schools, colleges and universities of the State of Colorado.